DISCOVERIES

     CIDER TRADITIONS IN THE PAYS D'AUGE     

When visiting a region and taking a keen interest in its culture and history it is also worthwhile to meet local producers of excellent regional products such as those found in the Pays d'Auge in NORMANDY region with its cider production

is delighted to offer you a taste of this delicious beverage in its various versions and culinary adaptations inherited from ancestral traditions as I observed in the

shimmering territories of the departments of Eure, Calvados and Orne.

Located in the heart of the Normandy region,the Pays d'Auge,which stretches across the borders of the Eure,Calvados and Orne departments, is an enchanting territory that captivates with the beauty of its natural spaces enhanced by its

rich and diverse heritage often complemented by ancestral traditions also found in the agricultural sector particulary

in cider production, represented by that delicious and succulent drink, cider, which is appreciated since antiquity but

whose production, thanks to the invention of the printing press, experienced a boom from the 13th century onwards

in the countryside and even at the table of the kings of France, and nowadays professionals in the cider industry have

earned their stripes in the production of this convivial , refreshing drink containing a content alcohol content varying

from 2 to 10% by volume, recognizable by the label "CIDRE PAYS D'AUGE" and through a great policy of quality in the

chosen apple varieties,divided between sweet apples rich in sugar which provide a high alcohol content,acidic apples

( ranging from tart to sour ) give the cider a fresh tangy note while bitter and sweet apples , rich in polyphenols and tannins, are generally used in traditional cider production. All of this is complemented by rational manufacturing and

processes alongside the appellation protected designation of origin ( PDO ) effective since March 1996 and planted in

orchards composed of high and low stems the apple trees are planted on shallow, clay-limestone hillside soils, which limits the trees' vigor but also contributes to their high sugar content and the excellent organoleptic qualities of the

fruit which is harvested and 750 different varieties of cider apples in the Pays d'Auge region are then blended , either manually or , more often , mechanically over a staggered season from the end of September to the end of December.

They are sorted and washed according to their categories,whether bittersweet and bitter or sweet and acidic,in order preserve healthy and clean fruit,which is then crushed to obtain a pulp followed by a maceration phase allowing the

aromas to be released and the juices to be enhanced with friendly and harmonious colors.

A Territory That Combines Culture and Conviviality

Exploring the Pays d'Auge means discovering its terroir with its unique characteristics , encompassing its culture and heritage, particularly its architecture,as well as its gastronomy, which is especially enjoyable to experience during the European Heritage Days (JEPM) or when visiting the estates of local owners , in addition to their other cider activities

producers and sometimes agricultural producers present their estates in connection with the rich history of the Pays

D'Auge, like at the Great Manoir Des Quatre Nations, located in Cricqueville En Auge in the Calvados department and

managed by Mr . and Mrs . LECOEUR in a charming space with typical great Norman architecture dating back to the

18th century This place, steeped in culture and tradition, has a rich history, as it was once an agricultural estate three

centuries and in parallel with the work we are currently carrying out to develop guest rooms , we have a cider house

as well as a typical country grocery store stocked with local produce in parallel to a great cattle farm that our visitors

appreciate, with, in addition to culinary and gastronomic information, the possibility of discovering the cider presses used and operated in the past by a horse-powered treadmill , as well as the traditional old-fashioned apple crushers consisting of a circular stone trough, which was called "Gadage" at the time, with a wheel also pulled by a horse " tell Bénédicte Lecoeur with a broad smile , while looking at old photos and drawings from the 18th century.A shimmering

territory that combines culture and conviviality, or cider, whether sweet, semi-dry, dry or traditional,is also considered

The Pays d'Auge, a gastronomic region of Normandy, is pleasant to visit in its rural and agricultural areas, but also and

taking into account its towns , its cities of character and its seaside resorts like Blangy Le Chateau , Pont L'Eveque or

else Honfleur and Trouville Sur Mer It is pleasant to wander through their scattered alleyways brightly colored flowers

complemented by half-timbered houses, and nothing beats a little tasting between walks this delicious Norman drink

enjoyed on the terrace of a cider bar, delights young and old alike and represents the vibrant diversity of this radiant region, the Pays d'Auge, where history and the art of living are constantly intertwined traditions that are the active and

vibrant expression of its gastronomic, cultural, and heritage richness and a history that one never tires of discovering.

Report by: Gabriel PAGE

Photos credit: Gabriel PAGE / Getty Images

RADIANT TERRITORIES

From its shimmering landscapes, just like at Mont Saint Michel , passing through the Perche before reaching its sumptuous beaches , discover the NORMANDY Region by clicking on the URL link of our website.